disheartened.

here I am at Playa Blanca! I went with my cousins, but they are not featured in any pictures because they were working on getting the house in order while I went to frolic on the beach. black sand! how pretty. I uploaded an album on facebook for those interested.
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I will update on what I have been doing here, I promise. Just not today.

Today is a day of disappointment that I am sharing with you all.

I like to travel. I like knowing that in a few months, I will temporarily be somewhere else! My constant need for temporary movement is an issue too profound to explore right now lol, but it seems as though I will not be leaving Panama as often as I thought.

1. My dean is getting married next month in PR. (un)fortunately, her wedding is the same day as my cousin's 90th birthday party here in Panama. I am not sad about attending the party! I am just bummed that two amazing things are happening simultaneously.

2. Fulbright has a regional retreat for all Central American Fulbrighters. They pay for all of us to get together and receive training or something in one country in the region. I was hoping for Nicaragua! Of course, everyone hopes it is NOT in their country. Free trip! whomp whooomp. This year's Fulbright retreat is in Panama. doh! Everyone at the embassy was so excited when they told me...and there I was with my face of disappointment. They promised it would be great-- we would go to a beach sort or el valle or somewhere amazing. *sigh* I am sure it will be great. I just wanted to go somewhere else. for free lol.

3. I still have Cuba in February I thought to myself... until I opened my email this morning and found that the study abroad program is not going as they want it to, my (former) boss is too busy to attend the conference (among other reasons) and therefore, AU will not be paying for me to travel to Cuba in February. *sigh* How sad. In reality, I could ask the University of Havana to invite me if I really wanted to go... but I would have to pay for it myself!

I really have made a successful career traveling on other people's money. My only consolation is that I have agreed to be part of the embassy's rural outreach program. I will travel to at least one province in Panama and talk to students about my research project, Fulbright, other opportunities to study abroad and other programs the embassy offers. It will probably be a day trip, but whatever. I'll take it!

sidenote: It is nice to be in a country where there is a fully functioning embassy and it is not considered an affront to the host country to work with them. I am enjoying the cultural affairs office.

ok. off to see about a PO Box. and maybe to see how I can get this stove to work. Who knows about pilots?? help me! I don't want to live off of take out.

hasta la proxima mi gente. :-)